Even with two additional days of discussions between the parties, the final decisions of the Conference do not reflect the urgency highlighted by the scientific community. The final agreement presented does not explicitly state the need to increase the ambition of the NDCs in 2020 to keep global warming below 1.5ºC, worrying experts and disappointing the millions of civilians who took to the streets with youth movements demanding effective action. This year's Climate Summit also ends without a consensus among the parties on the management of the carbon market, postponing its regulation to next year's conference in Glasgow.

Despite failing to reach a consensus on solid and urgent global responses, COP25 leaves a positive legacy regarding the potential for achievement stemming from the union between government and civil society actors.

Demonstrations of Unity and Solidarity

On a national level, Spain and Chile gave a lesson in international cooperation and mutual respect, organizing this major event in record time – about 30 days – which featured panels and discussions on a wide variety of topics related to climate change.

Another example of unity was the creation of the Brazil Climate Action Hub, which, in the absence of a government-organized pavilion, was promoted and paid for by civil society, hosting discussions and meetings between civil society, businesses, representatives from states and municipalities, the legislature, and the federal government as a strong demonstration of unity around the agenda.

COP Latin America, cities as a priority for the Chilean Presidency

Even with the change of venue to the Spanish capital, this was a Latin American COP and featured the largest delegation of Local Governments in Latin America. We totaled around 70 representatives from more than 30 subnational and local governments. “Since local and regional governments were officially recognized in the Paris Agreement, they are taking on a more central role in the conversation about climate change. The representation of local and regional governments at the Conference of the Parties this year is one of the strongest in the event's history, sending a powerful message to decision-makers that multi-level action is essential in addressing climate change,” highlights Rodrigo Perpétuo, executive secretary of ICLEI South America.

See here for coverage of the participation of local governments in the region at COP25.

This massive participation was the result of the Chilean Presidency prioritizing the issue and uniting local and regional government networks in Latin America around a common agenda in response to the climate crisis, which strengthened throughout 2019 through events that included the FLACMA Congress in Santiago, the Climate Week of the Americas and the Caribbean in Salvador, the 1st Forum of Amazonian Cities in Manaus, the Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee for Latin America of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, PreCOP25 in San Jose, Costa Rica, and the 1st Brazilian Conference on Climate Change in Recife.

Along this path, the FLACMA, ICLEI, C40, Mercocidades, and CC35 networks joined forces with the strong support of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Chilean Presidency of COP25, as well as support at different times from partners such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the European Union, and the Euroclima+ Program. .

In Latin America, the climate and social crises are inseparable.

The proposed agenda establishes climate justice as a philosophical framework for climate action in Latin America, making it impossible to dissociate the climate crisis from the social crisis. The growing inequality in the region demands that the climate agenda be addressed in an integrated manner with socioeconomic development policies, the defense of human rights principles and democracy, and the creation of opportunities aimed at improving urban planning in cities and states in areas such as sanitation, waste management, mobility, and transportation.

It's time to act! What to do after COP25, on the way to Glasgow.

See here the Action Agenda proposed by the Latin American networks.

The call to strengthen political will and accelerate climate action at the speed the world truly needs remains strong. We want to show in Glasgow how we are collectively making progress on each of these points. We invite networks of local governments operating in the countries of the region to join this effort and our associates to work with us on 5 action points:

• Declaration of a climate emergency

Considering that climate change is an urgent crisis that poses a serious threat to global stability and human existence on the planet, and that it impacts communities and citizens of states and municipalities differently, we invite mayors to declare a climate emergency. By declaring a climate emergency, the municipality joins an international movement with more than 1,000 jurisdictions in 18 countries declaring a climate emergency. See here who has already filed a claim.. Access the example from the Recife City Hall. See the model which we have prepared as a basis to support new declarations, and make yours by joining us. Alliance for High Ambition of the Chilean Presidency of COP25.

• NDCs from a multilevel perspective

Addressing NDCs from a perspective that encompasses all levels of government improves the likelihood and success rate of policy execution and implementation by including urban sectors responsible for high emission rates and issues of infrastructure and territorial planning, essential for adaptation strategies; as well as access to data and knowledge flow for effective reporting and analysis, in addition to generating a culture of collaborative governance that leads to good results. We invite your city to lead or work with networks on dialogue strategies with your governments to foster integration between levels of government.

• Climate finance

It is necessary to strengthen climate finance strategies for local and regional governments; facilitate access to financing; support the structuring of climate-integrated local projects; incorporate climate criteria into public procurement; and support the development of capacity building for local and regional governments, considering necessary adaptations to specific vulnerabilities. We will explore new models and invite you to share your innovative experiences that have the potential for scaling.